Etienne

Biodata

Background / History

Employment with the Sauron Household

Etienne worked as Raoul Sauron’s solicitor and helped him resolve numerous disputes. His work gave him access to the baron’s seal, which Raoul and Leon Gustav suspected he might have copied. Raoul described him as earning a decent income, having no debts, and being unlikely to take desperate risks merely for money 5 6.

Attempted Abduction

Etienne approached Charlotte after she awoke in an alley in Suhit City’s Old District. He knocked down two Night Watchers confronting her and claimed her father had sent him to fetch her. Charlotte initially followed him, but fled when she realized he was leading her toward the docks rather than home 2.

He pursued her to Baron Leon Gustav’s residence and forced his way inside. Presenting his court registration certificate and a seal, he claimed Raoul was waiting in a carriage west of Municipal Square. His explanation persuaded both Leon and Charlotte before she questioned its inconsistencies and challenged his authority. Leon then refused to release her into his custody 3.

Etienne pretended to leave, reopened the entrance, and attacked the footmen so he could seize Charlotte. He threw his oil lamp onto the staircase, blocking retreat with burning oil. Roselle Gustav struck him with a vase thrown from an upstairs window, giving Charlotte an opening to drive her dagger into his chest 3.

Death and Investigation

Despite the chest wound, Etienne remained standing and continued approaching Charlotte. Two armed servants arrived, and Leon ordered them to fire. Their bullets struck Etienne’s shoulder and chest; he fell backward and stopped moving 4.

Raoul subsequently confirmed that Etienne genuinely worked for him but had not been sent to find Charlotte. The barons treated the incident as an attempted abduction met with justified self-defense, with Leon’s account identifying the gunshots as the cause of death 5 6.

The Church’s investigation found that Etienne’s expenditure did not match his income, he had little bank savings, and his movements were frequently unaccounted for. Viève stressed that these circumstances alone did not prove cult membership, but an abnormal discovery involving his corpse supplied confirmation 12.

Later, Julian Wright’s spirit named Etienne among those sharing his faith, establishing his connection to the local followers of the Bridge of Light and Darkness 40.

Appearance

• Build: Tall; stood approximately half a head taller than Charlotte 3.
• Hair: Appeared to have slightly curly white hair beneath his tricorne; Raoul’s examination later noted a wig 2 5.
• Clothing: Black coat and hat, white cravat and gloves, and leather shoes 2 3.
• Presentation: Neatly dressed and courteous, reinforcing the credibility of his professional identity 3.

Personality

Etienne maintained a composed, deferential manner while deceiving Charlotte and Leon, using bows, formal language, and apparent cooperation to conceal his intentions. When persuasion failed, he shifted abruptly to violence and used a feigned retreat to create an opening. Even during the attack, he adjusted his cravat and spoke unhurriedly, displaying confidence in his ability to overcome resistance 3.

Abilities & Skills

Lawyer Persuasion

As a Sequence 9 Lawyer, Etienne could use speech to guide or distort another person’s thoughts by targeting weaknesses in their mind 8.

• Persuaded Leon Gustav to accept his claimed authority over Charlotte 3.
• Briefly made Charlotte doubt her own suspicions despite her hostility toward him 3 8.
• His influence could be resisted: Charlotte reconsidered his explanation, and Leon subsequently rejected his demands 3.
• Henriette emphasized that his low-sequence abilities did not visibly distinguish him from an ordinary person 8.

Physical Combat

Etienne demonstrated speed, strength, and effective close-quarters tactics during the pursuit and confrontation 2 3.

• Knocked down two Night Watchers with a punch each; one remained hospitalized with serious injuries 3 12.
• Rapidly closed the distance when Charlotte fled 2.
• Disarmed and incapacitated household footmen using strikes, kicks, and a thrown hat as a distraction 3.
• Continued moving after being stabbed in the chest, but was killed by subsequent gunfire 4.

Equipment / Items

• Oil lamp — Carried while guiding Charlotte; later thrown onto the staircase to create a barrier of burning oil 2 3.
• Tricorne — Used to distract a servant immediately before attacking him 3.
• Court registration certificate — Established his professional identity as a solicitor registered with the Sushit City High Court 3.
• Seal presented as Raoul’s token — Supported his false claim of authorization; potentially copied during his legitimate work for the baron 3 5.

Relationships

• Raoul Sauron — Employer whose identity and authority Etienne exploited without permission 5.
• Charlotte Sauron — Intended abduction victim; stabbed him while defending herself at the Gustav residence 2 3.
• Leon Gustav — Initially persuaded by Etienne’s credentials, then protected Charlotte and ordered the servants to shoot him 3 4.
• Roselle Gustav — Intervened from an upstairs window with thrown vases, disrupting Etienne’s attack 3 4.
• Julian Wright — Fellow cult member who named Etienne during postmortem spirit channeling 40.
• Luna LeMay — Member of the same local cult group; later participated in another attempt to seize Charlotte 17 40.

Posthumous Legacy

• Creation of a Sealed Artifact: The dagger Charlotte used against Etienne absorbed his remaining Beyonder power. Its blade became pitch-black, and ordinary cleaning could not remove the apparent bloodstains 11 12.
• Initial properties: Provisionally classified as Grade 3, the dagger gained increased sharpness, a tendency to strike weak points, and heightened sensitivity to hostility. Prolonged handling made its wielder increasingly arrogant 35.
• Later transformation: After Charlotte killed Julian with the same weapon, it absorbed additional power and became the Dagger of Judgment, gaining greater damage against the guilty and a brief movement-restricting Conviction ability 45.
• Effect on Charlotte: His death left her struggling with guilt and prompted her to seek the Church’s help, drawing her into its investigation of the sacrificial cult 6 10 12.

Notable Quotes

“As you wish, Baron. You will soon discover that your decision was a mistake.” 3